We are searching for a doula but would like one that has her flu vaccine and TDAP booster since we are delivering in February. We are having a hard time finding someone that gets both, which is interesting to me. On the one hand, I get that doulas are likely skeptical of the medical establishment in general. On the other hand, it seems like they would lose a lot of business from nervous moms.
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Interesting! I hadn't thought to ask about this!
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Putting this on my list of questions to ask at our meeting next week!
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This wouldn't be a concern of mine, but I don't think I'd want a doula at my birth if she was sick (with anything). That would scare me more...
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I have NEVER had a mom ask me this.
While I still wouldn't ever attend a birth if I were sick or thought I'd might be (I'd refer the mom to my backup doula), I also have little to no contact with the baby. My job is to be there for the mom during labor, I typically leave shortly after so the family can bond in privacy (unless there are breastfeeding issues mom needs help with).
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I haven't even heard of asking a doula this and I looked on many lists of what to ask doulas during interviews. I don't think most people would think to ask.
ETA: I have no clue if my doula was up to date on tdap or flu vaccines.
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I never thought about this, but the doula didn't have any contact with the baby. She left pretty quickly after the birth to give us our privacy!
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I have no advice because I didn't use a doula. Just want to say I commend you for thinking of this!
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To be honest, I think you are overthinking this one. I wouldn't worry about this issue.
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I never thought to ask! But I also don't think my doula touched the baby at all! She was there as my labor support and gracefully exited pretty quickly after the birth.
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Since the doulas sometimes help with breastfeeding and usually schedule at least one postpartum visit, I figured the tdap was at least fairly important. I also thought the doula would have a lot of hands on contact with me during the birth. Considering there is a pertussis outbreak, I'm surprised not more people ask about this. But maybe I am hyper- vigilant!
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Never even thought to ask my doula this!
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Good question! Even though doulas don't interact with the baby that much they interact with the momma, and no one wants to get sick as a new mommy.
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I think it's great you are thinking about this and asking doulas about their vax status. Even if they don't have a lot of direct contact with the baby at the time of birth, they have contact with the mother, often in a hospital/birth center full of other people who might be sick. So, I think it's a great question to ask!
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Good question. I didn't think to ask my doula.
I know my hospital based midwife and at least one of the nurses didn't have a flu shot. They were required by the hospital to wear those paper face masks. I actually requested that they remove the masks during delivery because I couldn't hear them or tell when they were speaking (i missed when they said I could push - missed that).
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I know that the nurses who didn't get flu vaccines had to wear face masks when they came in the room. Wow, I'm surprised about the tdap though! I don't think you're over thinking it. I'd want mine to at least have the tdap.
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I think that's a great question!
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I didn't have a doula but I think it's a great question to ask and I would not have been comfortable with a doula that didn't have those either.
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This is really interesting. I would expect all those around my
Newborn to get DTaP at least, but I didn't even get a flu shot myself and I'm due in 10 weeks. -
I wonder if this varies by hospital? When you use a doula, do you gave to clear it with the hospital?
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@looch: I was planning on delivering at a birth center and didn't have to clear my doula. We transferred to the hospital and didn't have to clear our doula with the hospital, she just counted as one of the two people allowed in the room.
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@mrsjazz: thanks, I had no idea how it worked.
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@looch: For a vaginal birth, you don't have to ask permission. The doula is hired by you, they have no say in whether she is there or not.
For a c-section however, hospitals have varying policies about who is allowed in the room. I'd say probably 75% have a "partners only" rule.I've never had a hospital question my vaccine status either - I say "Hi, I'm the doula for ______." That's it. Usually no other questions.
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@Arden: it kind of surprises me, actually, that a hired person would be allowed in the delivery room...not that it isn't useful to the mothers, but because Americans are so litigious and hospitals are so CYA focused. I would not be surprised if this gets more difficult at some point. Does that ever worry you?
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I also didn't think to ask either doula! I gave birth in June.
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24 comments